The Miracle in Miami

Even as I write this, I still can’t believe the Miami Dolphins completed the Miracle in Miami. With seven seconds left in the game against their AFC East rival the New England Patriots, the Dolphins executed a hook and ladder play lateraling the ball back between players and it worked. They scored as time expired beating their rivals and thus dubbing the ending of the game as the Miracle in Miami.

This game was to be the highlight of my season being an NFL photographer as I got to photograph my favorite team and my favorite player, Tom Brady. It still was the highlight actually. I was excited for this game since last year there was no Gronk and no Edelman. This game had all the players I wanted to shoot for years and years.

The game itself was everything a sports photographer would want. High paced action on both sides. Touchdowns, blocked punts, sacks and more. I don’t think I ran up and down the sidelines in any other game as I did for this game and I’ll be honest I could use the workout.

Towards the end of the game, the NFL sent me a text saying if the Patriots win, they wanted me to grab video of Brady and Gronkowski. The Patriots kicked a field goal with 14 seconds left and I was ready to run onto their field to get the video. And then the Miracle in Miami happened. I stood there stunned for a second asking myself did I really just see that happen. I did. I had to deviate from my plans for Brady and Gronk and I ran to the opposite end of the field to grab celebration video.

It was crazy to witness the bedlam afterwards. Players jumping in the air. The screams of utter joy perforating through the stadium walls for all to hear. It was definitely a moment to remember and this season has been full of them. I was witness to the longest game in NFL history and now I was a witness to the Miracle in Miami.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) is all smiles before the game